The experts gave the advice at the maiden edition of the African Women Sustainability Conference held in Abuja, at the weekend with the theme: Igniting Africa’s Green Revolution: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs as Catalyst for Sustainable Growth and Unlocking Access to Eco-financing.
The conference was held in partnership with the African Union, hosted by the FCT, Abuja and supported by Aruwa Capital, ToolUp and UNDP with various African governments in attendance.
The founder, ImpactHER, Efe Ukala, said: “The current African economic predicament cannot follow the same economic pathway of developed markets to achieve prosperity; we must chart a new course, we must think sustainably, whilst pursuing growth, this approach will afford the African development story a new pathway to prosperity that will allow us to leapfrog certain challenges and accelerate our advancement.”
This is why our path forward must embrace both industrialisation and sustainability, our future market access depends on it. With over 1,400 female entrepreneurs from about 14 African countries in attendance, we can make a change by going green.”
Citing an example, she said: “Europe has moved beyond merely preferring green certifications, they’re now legally requiring them. The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which came into force in June 2023, requires strict certification that products are deforestation-free before they can enter the EU market. This affects key African exports including cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. Additionally, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2026, will require carbon emissions reporting for steel, cement, and other industrial exports.”
In her remarks, Minister of State for the FCT, Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, stressed that African female entrepreneurs must be equipped with the right green tools for them to excel in their business endeavours.
She called on various African governments to prioritise the needs of female entrepreneurs to boost their nations’ economies.
Representatives of over 14 African governments, all agreed to foster and influence the adoption of a green economy by female entrepreneurs for the African economy’s growth.
